Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and radiologic features of postoperative complications after Swedish laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery and to emphasize the role of the radiologist in the follow-up of those patients, especially in the treatment of complications.
Materials and methods: We reviewed the radiologic findings in 218 consecutive morbidly obese patients after laparoscopic placement of the Swedish gastric banding system. Radiographic studies of the stomach (obtained with liquid barium sulfate suspension) were performed before surgery and 1 month after band placement in every patient. Additional studies in symptomatic patients were performed when needed.
Results: Surgical complications found included misplacement of the band (five patients, 2.3%), slippage of the band (17 patients, 7.8%), and pouch enlargement (eight patients, 3.7%). Technical problems encountered were inversion of the access port (three patients, 1.4%), leakage of the device (two patients, 0.9%), and spontaneous decrease of the stoma size caused by gastritis (seven patients, 3.2%) or the hyperosmolar properties of the IV contrast material (12 patients, 5.5%). Intrinsic abnormalities of gastroesophageal tract seen included trapping of food in the stoma (four patients, 1.8%) and esophagitis (11 patients, 5%).
Conclusion: Although, according to the available data, the gastric banding operation with the Swedish band meets the criteria of a low-risk laparoscopic alternative treatment of morbid obesity, the radiologic appearances of various complications may be seen on the images of patients who have undergone the procedure. The radiologist plays a key role in the early detection of those complications and treatment of specific abnormalities.